Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his fighters to put down their weapons on Sunday following a week of violent clashes. This comes after ongoing fighting escalated between Shi'ite militias and Iraqi and U.S. forces. Experts discuss the situation in the southern port city of Basra.

Guests:

Guy Raz, NPR's defense correspondent

Michael Hirsh, senior editor, Newsweek magazine

Rend Rahim, fellow at the United States Institute of Peace; executive director of the Iraq Foundation